Two of the three students drowned at the Lubuk Jepun Waterfall in Gombak, Selangor, were found clinging to each other, according to a witness.

In the incident at about 10.30am yesterday, Muhammad Abdullah, 22, Mohd Sazwan Rahim and Azrul Hisham Azman, both 27, were reported to have drowned while picnicking with three other friends at the waterfall.

The witness, Muhammad Hisyam Haris, 21, who is also a friend of the victims, said the body of Azrul Hisham was the first to be found.

"It was difficult to retrieve Mohamad's and Mohd Sazwan's bodies as they were at the bottom of the whirlpool," Muhammad Hisyam said when met by reporters in the compound of the Kuala Lumpur Hospital's Forensic Unit.

Relating the incident, the Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (Usim) student said he wanted to help Muhammad, a Universiti Islam Antarabangsa student, who slipped and fell while trying to retrieve his slipper which had fallen into the whirlpool.

But the rather deep water and the strong currents forced him to make a difficult decision not to go ahead with his intention.

Four-metre-deep whirlpool

"The whirlpool was about four metres deep. Azrul Hisham and Mohd Sazwan dived to rescue Muhammad, but they also drowned," he said, referring to the actions of the two Usim students.

Muhammad Hisham said he and the three victims and two other friends left Nilai, Negri Sembilan, at 6am and arrived at the waterfall at around 10am.

He regarded the three victims as pious and having had high religious education.

"They were all good-hearted," he said.

Meanwhile, Mohd Sazwan's mother, Sharifah Abdul Hamid, 49, said her son, the second of five siblings was a good person and had never brought difficulties to his family.

She said the last time they met was during Aidilfitri.

"Mohd Sazwan was a quiet boy, he rarely came home but we often communicated via WhatsApp.

"I found out about the incident via a telephone call from his friend… I was shocked. It was so unexpected, but I accept God's will," Sharifah said on a sad note.

Mohd Sazwan is expected to be laid to rest at the Batu Muda Islamic Cemetery in Gombak today while the bodies of Muhammad and Azrul Hisham are expected to be taken to their hometowns in Malacca and Johor, respectively.

- Bernama